Comments on Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas PaperTypePad2012-01-24T14:26:37ZAndy Towlehttp://www.towleroad.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:http://www.towleroad.com/2012/01/gay-couple-denied-commitment-announcement-in-arkansas-paper/comments/atom.xml/Ron commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01630079c714970d2012-01-31T21:45:04Z2012-01-31T21:45:04ZRonI'm from Arkansas, very near Elkins as a matter of fact. This comes as no surprise to me at all....<p>I&#39;m from Arkansas, very near Elkins as a matter of fact. This comes as no surprise to me at all. While in college, I was dating a guy, and we wanted to move in together. While looking at apartments, we quickly found out how difficult being gay in Arkansas could be. We were turned down for 1 bedroom apartments at several places, on the basis they didn&#39;t allow two people of the same sex to rent 1 bedroom apartments. I really liked Arkansas, but I couldn&#39;t deal with the backwoods type of conservatism that exists there. It&#39;s not a state that will change anytime soon. I thinks the paper&#39;s policy is bogus. They weren&#39;t asked to print a marriage announcement, they were asked to print a commitment ceremony which is a completely different thing. They just don&#39;t want all the hate mail they would get for publishing it.</p>jaragon commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01676104efec970b2012-01-24T23:04:06Z2012-01-24T23:04:06ZjaragonThese two cute guys should have their engagement announcement published.<p>These two cute guys should have their engagement announcement published. </p>hightemp commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0168e602c36e970c2012-01-24T18:17:42Z2012-01-24T18:17:42ZhightempJust to clarify...my statement earlier was based on what is presented here...that the paper published "marriage announcements." If it is...<p>Just to clarify...my statement earlier was based on what is presented here...that the paper published &quot;marriage announcements.&quot; If it is engagement announcement then my argument above wouldn&#39;t really apply. </p>
<p>Again... best of luck to the happy couple. </p>RWG commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01676100fe60970b2012-01-24T17:36:28Z2012-01-24T17:36:28ZRWGIs an engagement a "legally recognized relationship"? I don't think so. It is merely an informal arrangement between two people...<p>Is an engagement a &quot;legally recognized relationship&quot;? I don&#39;t think so. It is merely an informal arrangement between two people who intend to marry. It is not recognized by the state, nor does it have any legal weight, but such announcements are made in newspapers everyday. What this couple is asking for is no different than an engagement announcement, which the paper does accept, I am sure. So, from that perspective, the paper is discriminating against the gay couple. They should be boycotted, along with their advertisers.</p>KevinVT commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0168e601e6d1970c2012-01-24T17:08:53Z2012-01-24T17:08:53ZKevinVThttp://community.middlebury.edu/~moss/This was the policy of the New York Times until Sept. 2002. The first couple printed there was a CU...<p>This was the policy of the New York Times until Sept. 2002. The first couple printed there was a CU from Vermont, Daniel Gross and Steven Goldstein.</p>
<p>Glad to see that 10 years after, the rest of the country is also being pressed to mention that we exist.</p>Troy commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0163000b7346970d2012-01-24T16:42:47Z2012-01-24T16:42:47ZTroy The Dem-Gazette publishes engagement announcements and THEY are not legally recognized. This is a simple matter of the paper developing...<p>The Dem-Gazette publishes engagement announcements and THEY are not legally recognized. This is a simple matter of the paper developing a policy that announces to locals that these two guys have formally (if not legally according to the constitution) joined their lives together. It&#39;s important, and I hope they raise a big stink. My folks (who still live in AR) love commitment and they will feel badly for this couple. It&#39;s just a step in the right direction to raise awareness. </p>Mike commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01676100206d970b2012-01-24T16:31:41Z2012-01-24T16:31:41ZMikehttp://www.facebook.com/outonthetownAnd there is a fact wrong in this article. The newspaper they submitted to was the Northwest Arkansas Times based...<p>And there is a fact wrong in this article. The newspaper they submitted to was the Northwest Arkansas Times based out of Fayetteville. Its parent newspaper is the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette based out of Little Rock. Both newspapers have the same policy.</p>Mike commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0163000b40cb970d2012-01-24T16:25:39Z2012-01-24T16:25:39ZMikehttp://www.facebook.com/outonthetownThere is actually one place that does domestic partnerships in Arkansas. It's called Eureka Springs, and it's about an hour...<p>There is actually one place that does domestic partnerships in Arkansas. It&#39;s called Eureka Springs, and it&#39;s about an hour away from where this couple lives. Whether they choose to pursue that option, I do not know. </p>
<p>But yes, Dupree, I am surprised that the state I live in would openly block anyone from dignity. We don&#39;t &quot;ask for it&quot; living in the South. It&#39;s OUR home too.</p>DuPree commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0168e6011cf6970c2012-01-24T15:54:39Z2012-01-24T15:54:39ZDuPreehttp://chlorinex.blogspot.com/It's Arkansas. Surprised? Anyone?<p>It&#39;s Arkansas. Surprised? Anyone?</p>Continuum commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef016760ffba4c970b2012-01-24T15:51:33Z2012-01-24T15:51:33ZContinuumDisagree with Hightemp in that the paper itself chooses to enforce this policy. It's not illegal to publish a committment...<p>Disagree with Hightemp in that the paper itself chooses to enforce this policy.</p>
<p>It&#39;s not illegal to publish a committment notice.</p>
<p>In Arkansas, that&#39;s all they have.</p>
<p>I do agree that pressure should be put on legislators to change the law to recognize gay marriage.</p>Chris commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0163000ade94970d2012-01-24T15:41:57Z2012-01-24T15:41:57ZChrisHightemp is correct. The paper really did nothing wrong here. There is no legally recognized way in their state to...<p>Hightemp is correct. The paper really did nothing wrong here. There is no legally recognized way in their state to enter a marriage or civil union. </p>
<p>Imagine the reverse..What if a straight couple wanted an announcement that they had moved in together and were committed to each other. Would there be a petition?</p>Frank commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0163000ac36c970d2012-01-24T15:24:55Z2012-01-24T15:24:55ZFrankhightemp is spot on. The culprit here isn't the paper but the political system.<p>hightemp is spot on. The culprit here isn&#39;t the paper but the political system. </p>Dback commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef016760ff8be3970b2012-01-24T15:21:45Z2012-01-24T15:21:45ZDbackAwww, but they're so cute! :)<p>Awww, but they&#39;re so cute! :) </p>samedayessay.com commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0168e600e79c970c2012-01-24T15:20:58Z2012-01-24T15:20:58Zsamedayessay.comhttp://www.facebook.com/samedayessayOMG...<p>OMG...</p>S. commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0168e600e636970c2012-01-24T15:19:58Z2012-01-24T15:19:58ZS.Being someone who works in publishing, I kinda agree with Hightemp (above). It's not the paper's fault, per se, but...<p>Being someone who works in publishing, I kinda agree with Hightemp (above).</p>
<p>It&#39;s not the paper&#39;s fault, per se, but the state&#39;s. Boycott it (and maybe stop buying the paper).</p>Francis commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef016760ff805f970b2012-01-24T15:15:35Z2012-01-24T15:15:35ZFrancisBoycott the paper.<p>Boycott the paper. </p>hightemp commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0168e600bac7970c2012-01-24T15:04:57Z2012-01-24T15:04:57ZhightempThey are a lovely couple and I wish them all the best... but... and I'm going to get a lot...<p>They are a lovely couple and I wish them all the best... but... and I&#39;m going to get a lot of flak for this... I&#39;m not sure I understand why this is as big of a problem as it is made out to be. It doesn&#39;t sound, from the facts above, that there is a formal domestic partnership registry here but just them announcing their loving commitment to each other. </p>
<p>If the paper has a policy of only announcing state recognized relationships and is applying the policy evenly then it is their right to do so as a private business. Do I think its the right policy? No. But it does seem that this is one of those &quot;where do you draw the line&quot; circumstances. </p>
<p>Shouldn&#39;t the real pressure be on the state (or city even) to recognize some form of same-sex relationship? Then if the paper refused, I could understand how it is an unfair position. </p>Matt26 commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0168e600ae35970c2012-01-24T14:56:44Z2012-01-24T14:56:44ZMatt26Lovely looking couple. People should boycott this paper.<p>Lovely looking couple. People should boycott this paper.</p>Joey Boots commented on 'Gay Couple Denied Commitment Announcement in Arkansas Paper'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0168e6009817970c2012-01-24T14:42:08Z2012-01-24T14:42:08ZJoey Bootshttp://www.twitter.com/joeybootsPressure needs to be put on the newspapers advertisers to withdraw their ads- hit 'em where it hurts.<p>Pressure needs to be put on the newspapers advertisers to withdraw their ads- hit &#39;em where it hurts.</p>